Southern football to host open practice, Fan Fest activities ahead of season opener (2024)

Southern fans can get a sneak preview of the 2024 Jaguar football team in a walk-through scrimmage at A.W. Mumford Stadium Saturday at 9 a.m. The gates will open at 8:30 a.m.

The event kicks off a weekend of Fan Fest activities on campus including an address from first-year head coach Terrence Graves and his staff, followed by players signing autographs under the East stands.

At 2:30 p.m. fans can attend an intrasquad volleyball game at Seymour Hall. On Sunday, the Jaguar soccer team plays host to Houston Christian at 1 p.m. followed at 2 by the Zydeco Minifest at F.G. Clark Activity Center and a reception for Monday’s golf tournament participants at 7 p.m.

“We’ve had a lot of success with Fan Fest in the past,” senior associate athletic director Rodney Kirschner said. “After the football team practices, we’ll do everything under the East concourse to stay out of the sun.”

Graves clarified that Saturday’s walk-through is not an actual scrimmage, but the team will work on all game situations. The Jaguars open the season next Saturday at McNeese State at 6 p.m.

“Not too many teams hold a scrimmage a week before the first game,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll have a situational practice simulated like a game with game situations. We’ll do everything: kicking game, offense and defense, predicated on McNeese. We’ll thud tackle and focus on fundamentals and techniques.”

Graves said he isn’t concerned about McNeese having a game under its belt when they meet. The Cowboys open their season Saturday on the road at Tarleton State, in Stephenville, Texas, at 2 p.m.

“It’s not a big advantage,” Graves said. “You can look at it two ways. They get to play the week before. To get the kinks out as opposed to us kicking off. Having film on them is good for us. It helps, but it’s not a decisive factor.”

Graves was overall pleased with preseason camp in which the Jaguars avoided heat issues by practicing at 8 p.m. The team has shifted its workouts going forward to 3:30 p.m. and have gotten a break in the weather this week with lower humidity.

“I loved this camp but glad it’s over,” he said. “With school starting we’re back to regular practice. The guys enjoyed practicing at night. We didn’t have any heat related incidents. (Strength and conditioning) coach (Randal) Moore and did a great job getting them ready.”

Graves also said he’s looking forward to the start of his first season as a head coach after 31 years as an assistant, 16 of those at Southern in three separate stints.

“I can sense it (fans reaction) being a person who grew up here professionally,” Graves said. “A lot of fans and former players have lent support and shown me a lot of love. I’m appreciative of it. We want to reward their support.”

“We’ve been practicing a lot on McNeese State this week. We started on Sunday and our guys are locked in.”